DO YOU KNOW?

1. That there are about twenty four fatty acids needed by the body?
2. That only few of these twenty four fatty acids are regarded as being essential, i.e. they cannot be synthesized by the body. They must be present in food.
3. That Omega 6, one of these essential fatty acids, is found in many of the cooking oils we use at home, therefore it is rarely deficient?
4. That Omega 3, another essential fatty acid, may sometimes be in short supply, therefore there is need for it to be supplemented?
5. That these essential fatty acids have been linked to lower risk of cancer and hypertensive disorders?
6. That they have also been linked to increased cognitive abilities?

7 STEPS TO OBTAIN QUICK RELIEF FROM EATING DISORDERS

Eating disorders among human population includes anorexia and bulimia. In anorexia the victim abstain from food in order to reduce his perceived weight problem while in bulimia the victim eats too much to gain weight after which he finds ways to vomit the excess food and gain some relief. These conditions are caused by low self-esteem, stress and a desire to fit into a group or win acceptance of peers and friends. Everyone has love and esteem needs but the victims of these disorders carry their own desires to extreme levels. They seek fulfillment at the expense of their health.

The following steps outline the strategies to gain freedom from these disorders:
1. Accept yourself as you really are. Know that you are very unique in all things, therefore do not compare yourself with anyone.
II. Get busy with activities that will benefit yourself and others. This will help you to think less about yourself
iii. Decide in your mind that you will be happy everyday and keep your promise.
iv. Purpose in your heart that you will not overeat or under eat as the case may be.
v. Know in your heart that there is no ideal shape, weight, or fashion. The so-called standards for judging these attributes are always changing. Why then do you need to worry yourself about such things whose standards of assessment keep on changing?
vi Use the principle of auto-suggestion by repeating the following affirmations in front of your mirror early in the morning everyday:
"I am feeling great, spirit soul and body. I am created in the image of God who is perfect in all respect. I am created perfect. My weight is the best for me, i am of the right shape. I am created beautiful. In all my activities today everyone shall see the radiance of God's beauty and glory in me and they shall praise my heavenly father"
vii. The exercise should be performed with absolute faith that it will work

KEEPING HEALTHY- THE NATURAL WAY

It is commonly said that prevention is better than cure. This statement is very true because taking steps to prevent diseases is far cheaper than allowing the disease condition to come before seeking help.

Microorganisms present in our environments generally cause diseases. These microbes produce toxins, which poison our system leading to the disease symptoms.

Another factor that leads to disease condition is poor nutrition. When you are not able to obtain the required nutrients in the right amount, the tendency is for the body to operate below the most efficient level, as the body will not be able to resist most of the common diseases around.

In addition, physical and emotional stress has been identified as being responsible, in many cases for the observable symptoms. Low self-esteem, loss of hope and general frustrations, all combine to produce anxiety and mental stress which usually have a negative effects on general well-being. No matter the causes of the disease, preventive measures, using nature’s principles and techniques have been found to be very effective and cheaper.

How then can we go about preventing diseases using natural methods?

Firstly, it is important to make sure that our food contains the important nutrients such as proteins, fats and oils, minerals and vitamins. It is known for instance, that adequate nutrition can give the body some level of resistance against disease such as tuberculosis, common cold, anemia, sore throat, etc. No pills or drugs can effectively substitute for natural foods such as fruits and vegetables which are very common around us. The foods and vegetables should not be over-cooked to prevent the nutrients from being denatured and rendered useless. The foods should also be prepared in the most hygienic environment to prevent contaminations.

Apart from nutrition, I strongly believe that each and every one of us should have a religious/spiritual experience that can brighten our outlook about life and thus give us the hope of achievement, even though things are difficult at present. To be able to obtain this experience, it is important to hear and meditate on the primary messages of our faith. Reading the religious books and fellowshipping with other brethren will be of immense benefits. In addition, thought discipline and adequate rest are important. Avoid any condition that produces guilt, regrets and depression. Any thought that will not produce hope and confidence should be rejected and substituted immediately with a thought of hope and goodness.

It is my firm belief that if these simple steps are followed, we shall be able to live a healthy life at the cheapest cost.

HONEY: A VERY USEFUL NATURAL FOOD AND MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Honey is produced by bees from the nectar juice they collect from flowers. The nectar is biochemically changed to honey, which is harvested by human beings, either in the wild or at home from bee hives constructed by man.

The practice of establishing bee farms is becoming more common these days due to the recognition of the fact that honey is a very important product in international trade and the fact that the nutritional and health benefits of honey are becoming more obvious.

Honey is commonly used as a sweetening agent in homes. It is a perfect substitute for refined sugar in both urban and rural areas in Africa. Nutritionally, honey is a very good food substance. This is because it has a great amount of carbohydrates such as levulose, dextrose, sucrose and dextrins. It also contains some good quantities of minerals and water. The carbohydrates are easy to digest and absorb by the body, thereby providing a rich source of energy for life activities. The pollens extracted from bee hives along with honey are consumed by human beings. Experts say that they are valuable nutritionally as a source of protein.

Honey is used locally in the treatment of cough, particularly among children. The usual practice is to mix honey, lemon juice and garlic together. The resulting mixture is taken orally as many times as possible. Honey can also be mixed with hot water, lemon juice or hot milk for the treatment of cough and sore throat.

We can also take advantage of the antibiotic properties of honey by using it as dressing for wounds. Among the Yorubas of Western Nigeria, honey plays an important role during naming ceremonies.

HAPPY NEW AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

I hereby wish all my fans a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year. It is my expectation that we will enjoy this year better than we did last year. May God Almighty bless you all.

PAWPAW- AN EXCELLENT FRUIT

The pawpaw fruit which is scientifically called Carica papaya is one of the very valuable tropical fruits. It is regarded as a wholesome fruit. The daily requirements of essential nutrients such as minerals and some vitamins can be met by eating this fruit.
The pawpaw has excellent medicinal values which are recognized, even right from the ancient times. It is easily digested and also aids in digestion of other foods. Ripe pawpaw is good for growing children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. One of the important discovery of modern science is the presence of a protein digesting enzyme in the milky juice of the fruit. The enzyme is similar to pepsin in action and is reputed to be able to digest 200 times its on weight in protein. Its effect is to assist the body's own enzymes in assimilation

SNAIL MEAT

Snail meat is a high quality food, and highly relished as great delicacy in African and many European countries. The proximate composition of snail meat is as follows:
Crude protein 88.37% of dry matter
Fat 1.64 % of dry matter
calcium 185.70 mg/100g of dried sample
phosphorus 61.24 mg/100g of dried sample
potassium 63.3 mg/100g of dried sample
Iron 1.40 mg/100g of dried sample
Cholesterol o.42 mg/100g of fresh sample
Lysine 9.21 g/16gN
Leucine 9.36 g/16gN
Arginine 8.31 g/16gN
Tryptophane 1.29 g/16gN
Source: Akinnusi, O. (2004). Introduction to snail farming. p.38
From these figures it can be concluded that:
-snail meat is very rich in protein
-snail protein is of high quality considering the amino acids contained therein
-Snail meat has appreciable amounts of minerals


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